STABLE, BUT NOT STAID: GERMAN ECONOMY IN 2017

The signs for Germany’s further economic development are promising, with a high level of stability. This year’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by 1.8%, with a marginally smaller rate of 1.7% expected next year. The primary growth driver for 2017 will once again be private consumption, fuelled by the country’s record-high levels of employment. Risks for the German economy could occur on the export side, as a result of cooling down in some of the major target countries for German exports, particularly UK, China and USA.

FEWER INSOLVENCIES BUT HIGHER LOSSES

Within this environment, Coface forecasts that the downward pressure on insolvencies will continue, with the fifth year in a row of record lows in 2017 (falling to a volume of around 21,000.) However, this downward trend is expected to continue at a slightly slower pace. After decreasing by 5% this year, Coface forecasts a further decline in bankruptcies by 4.2% in 2017.

Despite the positive outlook, the amount of outstanding claims in insolvency procedures could rise further, as larger companies in several sectors are under increased pressure from competition, costs and profit margins. There are more insolvencies among economically larger companies, such as Steilmann and Unister, despite a decreasing number of insolvencies in absolute terms.

”The stable outlook for the German economy does not mean that companies in Germany will be able to lower their guard in the coming year. There are a number of external risks THAT could particularly affect Germany’s export-oriented economy. In addition, after the reform fatigue of the Grand Coalition, we cannot expect to see new far-reaching economic policy measures from the next government. These uncertainties will dissuade companies from extending their investments beyond manageable limits in the coming year,” explained Dr. Mario Jung, Coface Economist for Northern Europe.

GROWTH RATE OF GERMAN EXPORTS CLEARLY SLOWING SINCE THE SECOND HALF OF 2015

Despite another record year for German exports in 2015, growth rates have distinctly contracted since the second half of 2015. In the first quarter of 2016, the growth of German exports came to a near standstill due to the slight decline in the volume of world trade for the first time since autumn 2010. The subsequent recovery has been far from dynamic. In the first half of 2016, both world trade and German exports were very weak. German exporters recorded a slight upturn in the second quarter, due to the mild growth of world trade.

The outlook for German exports in 2017 is cautiously optimistic and depends on the economic situation in the top 10 target countries that account for about 60% of all German exports. The economic slowdown in four of the five most important target countries will be of particular relevance. For the UK, the third largest target country, Coface expects a massive slump in growth, down from 1.9 to 0.9%, largely due to the Brexit. This is expected to seriously affect German exports. In China, the gradual slowdown in growth is expected to continue – as is the gloom in the USA – now Germany’s most important customer, accounting for a share of around 9% of all exports. France, Germany’s second largest export destination, is expected to suffer from another slight setback in economic growth in 2017.

These negative impacts will be partially compensated for by the slightly improved economic outlook for the remaining countries in the top 10 group, along with clearly higher growth expected for emerging and developing countries – which account for around 30% of German exports.

PRIVATE CONSUMPTION MAIN DRIVER OF ACTIVITY

“The solid growth prospects for the German economy mainly rely on the dynamic pace of private consumption,” explained Dr. Jung. “Private household consumer spending will further accelerate in 2017, to reach a high of 2.0% – up from 1.9% in 2015 and 1.6% in 2016. To put this into perspective, the average growth in private consumption between 2006 and 2014 was just 0.8% and the growth of the German economy mainly relied on net exports,” he continued.

ELECTIONS IN 2017: WILL THE GRAND COALITION COME TO AN END?

The parties of the governing coalition are unlikely to escape unscathed during next year’s elections. According to current surveys, both the Union and SPD parties are scoring lower than the results they achieved during the last parliamentary elections (of September 2013.) They are also below the survey results taken at the turn of the year 2015/2016.

Nevertheless, the overall picture for the future of the Federal Government reflects stability and anything other than a renewal of the Grand Coalition would be a surprise. All available surveys still show that the Grand Coalition has a margin of security to obtain an absolute majority, while there is no majority for any other coalition of two parties. Even a tripartite alliance of the SPD, Left Party, and The Greens, which has been sought by several groups, would have little chance of obtaining an absolute majority.

A smaller Grand Coalition – as well as the likelihood of the AfD being an additional political power in the Bundestag – will hamper political consensus. For the first time since 1953, six parliamentary groups, covering a very broad political spectrum, will be represented in the Bundestag. Moreover, as the leaders (Merkel for the Union and Gabriel for the SPD) are anything but undisputed, the achievement of large reform projects under the next Grand Coalition – including those covering economic and social policy – will become more and more difficult.

These potential risks for political developments in Germany could fuel political uncertainties in the European community, creating an additional drag on consensus-building at European Union level.

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